How Thanksgiving Dinner Can Affect Your Organs

Most Americans may not realize how a Thanksgiving dinner can affect the organs in their bodies.

According to the Calorie Control Council, the average American may gobble and drink down about 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving. The dinner may contain about 3,000 calories, while snacking on appetizers and drinks can account for another 1,500 calories.

Dr. Josh Klapow, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told Yahoo! Health that simply being around relatives on Thanksgiving can cause emotional stress which may spur people to consume more or less than they normally do.

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CBS Boston's Dr. Mallika Marshall cited the Yahoo! Health report when she explained how turkey can cause people's serotonin levels to rise, which may bring on good feelings, but also make folks feel tired and less aware of what they are consuming.

Normally, the stomach sends the brain a neurological signal when it is full, but people may continue eating on Thanksgiving, which can cause their stomachs to stretch, Marshall added.

When people drink alcohol (possibly caused by relatives on Thanksgiving), their livers usually break down only one drink every hour, Marshall explained.

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If people drink faster than their bodies can break down alcohol, there can be adverse consequences such as getting drunk, noted the BBC News in 2014.